At ease, but never idle: Stewart Shimmin reflects on 30 years of Resort News

From humble beginnings in Noosa Junction to becoming Australia’s leading voice for resort and strata professionals, the latest issue of Resort News is packed with nostalgia, reflections, and well-deserved recognition.

As Resort News celebrates its 30th anniversary, we thought it fitting to share the story of one of our own, someone who has been with the magazine since almost the very beginning. If you have spent any time in the management rights industry, chances are you have crossed paths with Stewart Shimmin, a name synonymous with humour, loyalty, and the unwavering drive that helped build this publication into what it is today.

Read this milestone edition of Resort News HERE

For nearly three decades, Stewart has been part of the heartbeat of Resort News, shaping its relationships, leading its sales, and helping guide its evolution from a two-man operation in Noosa Junction to a respected, multi-platform media brand. His story is one of resilience, reinvention, and the rare ability to connect people and ideas in a way that makes a whole industry feel like family.

From soldier to salesman

Stewart’s journey began in Milawa, a small town in northeast Victoria where his backyard was the iconic Brown Brothers Winery. Both his parents worked there for 25 years, instilling in him a strong work ethic and sense of community.

At just 17, Stewart traded rural life for army life, joining the 5/7 RAR Infantry in 1987. For three years, he served in a mechanised battalion driving Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) and jumping out of the back as an infantryman, based at Holsworthy in Sydney.

“The Army taught me leadership, discipline, attention to detail, and structure,” he says. “And most importantly, how to keep going when things get tough.”

When he left in 1990, translating military skills into civilian work was not easy, but Stewart found his stride in sales. His first challenge? Selling Kirby vacuum cleaners door-to-door, at $2500 each. “You learn persistence pretty quickly,” he laughs. Before long, he was leading a small team and later moved into newspaper advertising on the NSW Central Coast.

The Sunshine Coast shift

In 1995, Stewart relocated to Mooloolaba, working for a Business for Sale magazine. Just a year later, a new opportunity appeared, one that would define the next 30 years of his career.

In April 1996, Stewart joined a fledgling publication called Resort News, which had just released its fourth issue. Working alongside founder Darren Willis in a small Noosa Junction office, he became the Preferred Supplier Programme Coordinator, creating vital links between onsite managers and suppliers.

“We built that programme to over 200 suppliers across all categories,” Stewart recalls. “It eventually grew to a six-page directory at the back of every issue, and now it lives online through AccomNews and AccomProperties”.

As the magazine expanded, so did Stewart’s role. Within a few years, he was leading general sales, managing a growing team, and helping to establish Resort News as the voice of the management rights community.

Read more about management rights in AccomNews HERE

Building platforms, not just publications

One of Stewart’s proudest professional achievements came in 2019, with the creation of AccomProperties, a dedicated website for buying and selling accommodation businesses.

The concept was developed by Stewart and Patrick Clarke, working alongside web developer Stephen Neate and Multimedia’s digital team. “Patrick and I had been talking for years about how to modernise the way management rights were listed and sold,” Stewart says. “We wanted something purpose-built for this industry, and that’s what we built.”

With technical support from Dave Wright, the idea took off. In just six years, AccomProperties has become the largest dedicated accommodation property sales site in Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands, with more than 1000 listings live at any given time.

The early days of an industry

When Resort News first launched in 1995, the management rights industry was still taking shape. Associations like QRAMA and the REIQ’s Resident Unit Managers Chapter (R.U.M.) were instrumental in giving managers a unified voice, but there was no central hub for information.

“Before Resort News, the only way managers got information was through their accountant, lawyer, or another manager nearby,” Stewart explains. “There wasn’t a publication bringing everyone together.”

That changed with the support of early advertisers such as Dave Allen Real Estate, Venz Management Rights Specialists, Resort Brokers, Property Pacific, and HiRUM. Their ongoing support, alongside the Preferred Supplier Programme, provided the foundation that kept Resort News thriving.

Industry firsts: Golf days and gala nights

Many people would not know, but Resort News was behind some of the first large-scale social events in the industry.

“In the 2000s, we organised the first industry golf days, and they were huge,” Stewart says. “We had full fields of 144 players, 18 sponsors, one for every hole. At one stage, we were running up to twelve events a year, from the Gold Coast and Brisbane all the way up to Cairns.”

Another major highlight was working with PCS Finance on the Accommodation Industry Gala Ball at Jupiters Casino on the Gold Coast. “It was the only event of its kind back then,” Stewart recalls. “A chance for resident managers to dress up, celebrate, and let their hair down. Now they are spoilt for choice with awards nights, but that was where it all started.”

Characters, camaraderie and Clarke collaboration

Over the years, Stewart has met countless personalities who have left their mark on both the industry and Resort News itself.

“There have been a few stand-out characters over the years,” Stewart says, “but none more so than Dave Allen from Dave Allen Real Estate.”

Dave was an ex-Army Colonel who advertised in every issue from the very beginning and penned a regular column for the magazine. “Dave had a way with words,” Stewart remembers. “His articles always had a flair for going into battle, most of the time over legislative issues.”

He was heavily involved with the REIQ and a major supporter of the REIQ R.U.M. Chapter, helping to strengthen the early professional framework for onsite managers. But what many remember most was his personality. “You always enjoyed catching up with Dave in his Chevron Island office,” Stewart says. “He would start with a joke, then talk about his beloved Lions, who were on a roll of winning three premierships, all while a cigarette slowly burned away on his desk.”

Another character who stands out is Russell Leary. “Back in the late 1990s he had the management rights to K Resort in Surfers Paradise,” Stewart recalls. “He was a big supporter of Resort News and went on to provide a regular maintenance article for the magazine until he got too busy with multiple properties. For anyone who knows Russell well, you would know he was very energetic. I still remember being in an outdoor bar in Surfers Paradise for a meeting. He arrived on his road bike, had three schooners in twenty minutes while talking the whole time, then said ‘gotta go boys,’ and he was off again.”

Then there is Mike O’Farrell, another familiar name. “I remember meeting Mike in the 90s when he and Sue had the management rights to Biarritz on the Gold Coast, when the magazine did a profile on the property,” Stewart says. “He has always been a huge supporter of Resort News. What really stands out about Mike is his colourful personality. He has never been shy of an opinion, and when he is MC’ing at an event or speaking, you never quite know what he will announce!”

When you talk about colourful characters, you cannot leave out Trevor Rawnsley, CEO of ARAMA (Australian Resident Accommodation Managers Association). Stewart has known Trevor for more than a decade, mostly through his work leading the association, and says he is one of the true personalities of the management rights industry. “Trevor is a wealth of information, he’s passionate about the industry, and a great entertainer,” Stewart says. “He has a unique ability to mix insight with humour, whether he’s on stage at an ARAMA event or chatting one-on-one with managers.”

Then there are his long-time colleagues and now owners of Multimedia, Paddy and Mandy Clarke.

“How could I forget our ever-colourful owners,” Stewart says with a grin. “It has been a pleasure having them involved with the business for the past 20 years or so.

“Over the past several years, Mandy has taken to the Resort News and AccomNews editor role like a duck to water. She is always the life of the party at industry events when networking with peers.

“Paddy is known for his good banter, love of golf, and his beloved football team, Aston Villa, though he has not had much to cheer about lately, and we will not bring up cricket.”

Colourful characters and industry Queens

Over the years, there have been many colourful advertisers, and none more so than the Queen of Management Rights, Liz Lavender. “It was always entertaining creating her advertisements,” Stewart recalls.

“They always had a regal touch, the crown as part of her logo, sometimes a corgi, or even the gates of Buckingham Palace. And lest we forget the lavender background. Her ads definitely stood out from the crowd.”

Liz was one of the original salespeople from Dave Allen Real Estate some 30 years ago before launching her own company. She also played a pivotal role in the early Women in Management Rights (WIM) luncheons, bringing her signature charm and wit to every event.

Another industry icon Stewart fondly mentions is Erika Thomas, who has also been part of the management rights industry for three decades and a long-time supporter of Resort News. “Erika was one of our original clients when she worked for a body corporate management company before starting her own business in the accounting field,” Stewart says.

“She’s known for being tough and incredibly professional when it comes to income verifications and trust account auditing. But after hours is where she really shines. I’ve had the opportunity to attend many of the same events over the years, from race days on the Gold Coast and industry gala balls to more recent Resly events, and she’s always up for a good time.”

Wearing many hats

As part of a small but mighty team at Multimedia, Stewart wears many hats. Beyond sales and client relationships, one of his key roles is overseeing the complex process of pulling everything together when a magazine goes to print.

“I liaise with our printers, the editorial, and the production teams to bring all the advertising and editorial content together before we lay out the magazines,” he explains. “It’s always a stressful time, meeting production and printing deadlines, and making sure every advertiser’s commitment is honoured. There’s no worse phone call than a client saying they’ve just received their magazine and their ad is nowhere to be seen.”

Life beyond the headlines

Away from the office, Stewart is a mad Collingwood supporter, a keen golfer, and a horse-racing enthusiast, with small shares in several racehorses and a regular Saturday flutter. But above all, he credits his partner Jen as his greatest support.

“As they say, behind every good man is a great woman, and that is certainly the case with me,” Stewart says. “If it was not for my partner Jen Svenson, I would not be where I am today.”

Her support, humour, and patience have been the quiet foundation behind Stewart’s long career, one that has taken him from army life to advertising, and from cold calls to cover stories.

Legacy and leadership

Now leading the charge as Managing Director, Stewart still runs a tight unit. His army-honed qualities of discipline, teamwork, and good humour continue to serve him well. He remains grounded in what has always mattered most: relationships, reputation, and resilience.

“At the end of the day,” he says, “we didn’t just build a magazine, we built a community.”

Interested in a management rights business? Browse Australia-wide listings on AccomProperties HERE

Read this milestone edition of Resort News HERE